RUI: The Impact of Multiple Functional Roles on the Morphological Diversification of Turtle Shells

RUI：多种功能作用对龟壳形态多样化的影响

• 批准号: 1257142
• 负责人: Charles Stayton
• 金额: $ 16.22万
• 依托单位: Bucknell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-08-01 至 2018-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1257142&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Impact; Multiple; Functional; Roles

Since most parts of organisms perform multiple functions, to understand how conflicting functional demands can affect those parts, evolution is critical; however, neither a theoretical framework nor extensive real-world data are available to address this topic. To address this gap, this study will integrate detailed anatomical and engineering analyses (including computer modeling and real-world validation using models) of the shells of all 300 living species of turtle. Three functional attributes will be considered: shell strength, shell drag during swimming, and shell stability when the turtle is overturned. The data will be used to address three questions. Do shells that must perform more functions evolve differently than those with fewer functions (e.g., do aquatic turtle shells evolve differently than those of land turtles, which don't need to be efficient underwater?). Are there shells that perform poorly for any of their functions? If different functions impose different requirements on shells (e.g., flat shells seem best for swimming, but worse for strength), how do shells compromise among functions during evolution? This study will address several recent Grand Challenges in Organismal Biology, helping scientists to understand how organisms interact with their environment during evolution and integrating the analysis of biological structures with advanced engineering techniques. All data will be made publicly available via the Dryad (www.datadryad.org) and Biomesh (www.biomesh.org) databases. The results will be applicable to other biological shells (e.g., eggs or skulls) or to the development of artificial structures such as small submersibles. This project has an extensive educational component. Twenty to twenty-five undergraduate students will work on this project, receiving applied training in cutting-edge imaging and analysis techniques (skills applicable in careers from medicine to engineering) and experience with scientific research. Students will also develop public communication skills when they help develop and present biology lessons with the PI at local primary schools.

由于生物体的大多数部分都执行多种功能，为了了解相互冲突的功能需求如何影响这些部分，进化至关重要。 然而，既没有理论框架也没有广泛的现实世界数据来解决这个主题。 为了弥补这一差距，本研究将对所有 300 种现存海龟物种的甲壳进行详细的解剖学和工程分析（包括计算机建模和使用模型进行现实世界验证）。 将考虑三个功能属性：龟壳强度、游泳时龟壳阻力以及乌龟翻倒时龟壳稳定性。 这些数据将用于解决三个问题。 必须执行更多功能的贝壳与功能较少的贝壳的进化是否有所不同（例如，水生龟壳的进化是否与不需要在水下高效工作的陆龟不同？）。 是否存在某些功能表现不佳的 shell？ 如果不同的功能对贝壳有不同的要求（例如，扁平的贝壳似乎最适合游泳，但不利于力量），那么在进化过程中，贝壳如何在功能之间进行妥协？这项研究将解决生物生物学中最近的几个重大挑战，帮助科学家了解生物在进化过程中如何与其环境相互作用，并将生物结构分析与先进的工程技术相结合。 所有数据将通过 Dryad (www.datadryad.org) 和 Biomesh (www.biomesh.org) 数据库公开提供。 研究结果将适用于其他生物壳（例如蛋或头骨）或小型潜水器等人造结构的开发。 该项目具有广泛的教育内容。 二十到二十五名本科生将参与该项目，接受尖端成像和分析技术（适用于从医学到工程职业的技能）的应用培训以及科学研究经验。 当学生与当地小学的 PI 一起开发和讲授生物课程时，他们还将培养公共沟通技能。